30 Accidents And Fails That Made People Cringe And Think: “Well, That Looked Expensive” (New Pics)

Most of us have heard the phrase “Accidents happen.” It’s usually to comfort us after a mistake we’ve made or an incident that had unintended consequences. It’s true,accidentsreally do happen; some of them minor, like spilling tea over a coffee table at a friend’s house, and others more significant, like a spacecraft crash.Today, we’re presenting you with a list of the latter.Bored Pandahas collected the most noteworthy accidents and situations from the That Looked Expensivesubreddit. While we hope that there were as few casualties as possible, we still can’t help thinking: “Heck, that must’ve cost a pretty penny.“More info:RedditThis post may includeaffiliate links.

Today, we’re presenting you with a list of the latter.Bored Pandahas collected the most noteworthy accidents and situations from the That Looked Expensivesubreddit. While we hope that there were as few casualties as possible, we still can’t help thinking: “Heck, that must’ve cost a pretty penny.”

More info:Reddit

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Server tipped over, hard drives scattered across the floor. Unfortunate incident likely costly to fix.

Workers standing next to an overturned mining truck, illustrating an unfortunate incident that looks expensive.

An MRI machine with an attached hospital bed, indicating an unfortunate and costly incident.

When they hear the word “accident,” many people think of car crashes. Many of the entries on this list are indeed car accidents, yet they’re about the cost of property and damage to material things. The 1.1 million users of the That Looked Expensivesubredditcertainly enjoy a car pileup or two.According to the World Health Organization(WHO), traffic accidents are the most common reason young people (age 5 to 29) pass away. Every year, 1.9 million people are victims of road traffic injuries. Interestingly, more than half are what WHO calls “vulnerable road users,” which includes motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

According to the World Health Organization(WHO), traffic accidents are the most common reason young people (age 5 to 29) pass away. Every year, 1.9 million people are victims of road traffic injuries. Interestingly, more than half are what WHO calls “vulnerable road users,” which includes motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Broken vintage Ford vehicle after a costly-looking accident with a white car, being inspected by police officers.

Crane truck toppled onto a house, causing a severe accident and potentially expensive damage.

Truck submerged in water with ducks swimming in the back, illustrating unfortunate incidents that look expensive.

Aviation accidents are another genre ofcatastrophethat the members of the subreddit are fans of. The most expensive aviation crash in history is the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber aircraft crash. It was America’s most stealthy bomber, so, how did it end up in flames just moments after takeoff?Thankfully, there were no casualties; the two pilots ejected themselves in time and only one of them had a spinal injury, eventuallymaking a full recovery. The crash did, however, cost $2B. The cause wasn’t any mechanical fault; it was just Mother Nature. Due to humidity, the plane’s sensors misreported the aircraft’s speed, and the Flight Control System (FCS) initiated a 30-degree climb upwards, guaranteeing a crash.

Thankfully, there were no casualties; the two pilots ejected themselves in time and only one of them had a spinal injury, eventuallymaking a full recovery. The crash did, however, cost $2B. The cause wasn’t any mechanical fault; it was just Mother Nature. Due to humidity, the plane’s sensors misreported the aircraft’s speed, and the Flight Control System (FCS) initiated a 30-degree climb upwards, guaranteeing a crash.

Excavator sunk in road, surrounded by onlookers, illustrating an expensive unfortunate incident.

Dog lying in a large hole in a mattress, resembling an unfortunate incident likely costing a fortune.

Damaged F-16 jet on runway after unfortunate incident involving Vulcan cannon fire.

If we’re talking about commercial flights, the title for the most expensive disaster would probably go to the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The search efforts alonehave costaround $150 million to date.To this day, the Flight MH370 disappearance is one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. While there are manytheoriesout there (some more wild than others), officials think that the most credible ones are that either the plane ran out of fuel, that the pilots lost control of the aircraft, or that one of them was a rogue pilot.

To this day, the Flight MH370 disappearance is one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. While there are manytheoriesout there (some more wild than others), officials think that the most credible ones are that either the plane ran out of fuel, that the pilots lost control of the aircraft, or that one of them was a rogue pilot.

Overturned fire truck on fire at roadside, with smoke billowing, possibly an unfortunate incident indicating high costs.

Aircraft incident in a yellow field, suggesting an unfortunate and expensive accident.

Burst water main causing street flooding near houses, illustrating an expensive incident.

In December of 2024, the efforts to find out what happened to theMalaysia Airlines Flight MH370once again became the topic of public discourse. The US-based ocean exploration firm Ocean Infinity made a deal with Malaysia’s Transport Ministry to renew the search. It’s a “no find, no fee” arrangement, so the company will only be paid if they find the wreckage.

A red sports car is hit by a large boat motor, showcasing an unfortunate and expensive incident.

A damaged spacecraft on a landing pad by the ocean, illustrating an expensive unfortunate incident.

SUV crashed into road sign, likely expensive damage.

If you think only modern disasters can be this expensive, you’d be wrong. The shipwreck that’s deemed the most costly in all of history happened in 1708. The San José, a ship of the Spanish treasure fleet,sankafter a battle with the British and took with it a hold of gold, silver, jewelry, and emeralds. According to the newest estimates, the treasures inside the ship are worth from $7 billion to $18 billion.

Jetliner tail scraping runway, sparks flying; an unfortunate incident likely to be costly.

Expensive car accident at intersection, vintage white sports car rear-ended by black sedan.

Incident scene with a rescue worker photographing a submerged vehicle in a river, suggesting a costly mishap.

The San José galleon sank near the shores of Colombia, andthe shipwreckwas recovered on its coast in 1981. Since then, there has been a fierce battle over who has the right to its treasures: Colombia, the Spanish, South American Indigenous groups, and even an American salvage company tried to claim it.

Car wedged under airplane engine, costly incident at airport with staff assessing the situation, highlighting expensive mishap.

$194,000 grand piano damaged by movers; incident seemed expensive and unfortunate.

Green sports car flipped onto its side next to a red SUV, likely an expensive incident.

The Colombian governmentwants to retrieve the wreckageand put it in a museum, an effort that would cost them a little over a million dollars. But archaeologists say that they find the fight over the treasure laughable.“The treasure of the San José should remain at the bottom of the sea, along with the human remains of the 600 crew members who died there,” Juan Guillermo Martín, a Colombian maritime archaeologist,says. “The treasure is part of the archaeological context, and as such has no commercial value. Its value is strictly scientific.”

“The treasure of the San José should remain at the bottom of the sea, along with the human remains of the 600 crew members who died there,” Juan Guillermo Martín, a Colombian maritime archaeologist,says. “The treasure is part of the archaeological context, and as such has no commercial value. Its value is strictly scientific.”

Truck accident with shattered glass spill, highlighting unfortunate incident and expensive damage on wet road.

Luxury yacht stranded on rocky coastline, highlighting an unfortunate and costly incident.

Red sports car crashes into storefront, causing significant damage and looking expensive to repair.

Oil spills can cost a pretty penny for oil giants. The 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig is the most expensive to date. Experts estimate that around four million barrels of oilflowedinto the ocean over 87 days. BP will continue to pay for the marine restoration projects up until 2031. In the decade following the spill, BPhas paidwell over $71 billion.

Small aircraft tipped over on wet tarmac at an airport, reflecting an unfortunate incident likely costing a fortune.

Collapsed bridge over water at night, a likely expensive incident with significant repair costs.

A person with a beard holding a microphone, sitting on a white chair, with a curtain backdrop at a conference.

Probably nothing can top space disasters on their scale of wreckage. Space exploration is, however, one of the most expensive human endeavors. Perhaps the most expensive failed space mission was when the space shuttle Colombiabroke downwhile re-entering Earth in 2003. Adjusted to today’s inflation, the value of the disaster would be $16.2 billion.

A large industrial machine overturned in muddy waters, surrounded by debris, indicating a costly mishap.

Man standing on a wrecked car in a river, depicting an unfortunate incident that looks expensive.

Damaged submarine covered with tarp, indicating an unfortunate incident likely leading to costly repairs.

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Industrial kitchen with overflowing oil from fryers, suggesting a costly cleanup.

Truck submerged in water near a road, with two people in high-visibility jackets observing the incident.

Doomsday plane grounded after bird strike, highlighting an unfortunate expensive incident.

Landslide under a patio and pool, showing expensive damage to property.

Damaged warehouse with collapsed roof, debris scattered; an unfortunate incident likely costing a fortune.

Firefighter observing expensive car wreckage on highway; likely costly incident.

Garbage truck stuck under an 11-foot bridge, showing unfortunate incident likely costing a fortune in damages.

Yellow excavator stuck in muddy ground, likely an expensive incident in a park setting with trees.

Luxury car in a costly accident with police presence on a highway.

A damaged satellite lies on the floor in a lab, surrounded by yellow barriers, possibly an expensive incident.

Airplane cabin with damaged section exposing another aircraft, highlighting an unfortunate incident that looks expensive.

Aerial view of an airfield incident, possibly costly, with emergency vehicles around a large aircraft.

Luxury car accident in garage, with parts scattered, likely a costly repair.

Truck overturned in a ditch with a tank on a trailer, highlighting an unfortunate incident likely costly.

Damaged airplane interior floor exposing components, indicating an unfortunate and expensive incident.

Ship tilting and emitting smoke in the ocean, portraying an unfortunate incident and likely expensive damage.

A car engulfed in flames on a road at night, near a McDonald’s sign, illustrating an expensive unfortunate incident.

Overloaded dump truck with a collapsed axle, illustrating an unfortunate and costly incident.

Rusty rocket debris being retrieved from the ocean, illustrating an unfortunate incident that likely cost a fortune.

Truck crashes into building, causing expensive damage and a costly mess.